U.S. patent application number 10/664806 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for trailer cover system.
Invention is credited to Searfoss, Timothy K..
Application Number | 20050057068 10/664806 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34274637 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050057068 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Searfoss, Timothy K. |
March 17, 2005 |
Trailer cover system
Abstract
A rail is disclosed for a top of a wall of a trailer. The rail
comprises a body adapted to engage the top of the wall. The body
has a concave surface adapted to receive a cover reel.
Inventors: |
Searfoss, Timothy K.;
(Alger, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Cardinal Law Group
Suite 2000
1603 Orrington Avenue
Evanston
IL
60201
US
|
Family ID: |
34274637 |
Appl. No.: |
10/664806 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/98 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60J 7/085 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
296/098 |
International
Class: |
B60P 007/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A rail for a top of a wall of a trailer, the rail comprising: a
body adapted to engage the top of the wall, the body having a
concave surface adapted to receive a cover reel.
2. The rail of claim 1 wherein the concave surface faces away from
the trailer.
3. The rail of claim 1 further comprising at least one leg
connected to the body.
4. The rail of claim 3 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to
engage the top of the wall.
5. The rail of claim 3 wherein the at least one leg is adapted to
be welded to the top of the wall.
6. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a plurality of
ribs.
7. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body includes an opening adapted
to anchor a cover.
8. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body extends at least a majority
of a length of the wall of the trailer.
9. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body comprises aluminum.
10. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body comprises a polymer.
11. The rail of claim 1 wherein the body is extruded.
12. An apparatus for extending and retracting a cover over a
trailer, the apparatus comprising: a base pivotably connected to
the trailer; an extension connected to the cover and pivotably
connected to the base; and a rail for a top of a wall of the
trailer, the rail including a body adapted to engage the top of the
wall, the body having a concave surface adapted to receive a cover
reel.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the concave surface faces
away from the trailer.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising at least one leg
connected to the body.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one leg is
adapted to engage the top of the wall.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one leg is
adapted to be welded to the top of the wall.
17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body comprises a
plurality of ribs.
18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body includes an opening
adapted to anchor the cover.
19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body extends at least a
majority of a length of the wall of the trailer.
20. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body comprises
aluminum.
21. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body comprises a
polymer.
22. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the body is extruded.
23. An apparatus for extending and retracting a cover over a
trailer, the apparatus comprising: a base pivotably connected to
the trailer; an extension connected to the cover and pivotably
connected to the base; a reel connected to the extension; a motor
mounted on the extension and drivingly engaged with the reel to
selectively extend and retract the cover over the trailer; and a
rail for a top of a wall of the trailer, the rail including a body
adapted to engage the top of the wall, the body having a concave
surface adapted to receive the reel.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the concave surface faces
away from the trailer.
25. The apparatus of claim 23 further comprising at least one leg
connected to the body.
26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the at least one leg is
adapted to engage the top of the wall.
27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the at least one leg is
adapted to be welded to the top of the wall.
28. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body comprises a
plurality of ribs.
29. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body includes an opening
adapted to anchor the cover.
30. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body extends at least a
majority of a length of the wall of the trailer.
31. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body comprises
aluminum.
32. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body comprises a
polymer.
33. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the body is extruded.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to covers for truck trailers, and
more particularly to a trailer cover system.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Many truck trailers, particularly those hauling loose loads
such as sand and gravel, need a cover to prevent the wind from
blowing load particles off the load bed. Various apparatus have
been devised for covering a trailer load. Some such apparatus
include a motor for selectively winding a flexible cover. An
effective cover should be one which is easily operated by the truck
driver so as to selectively cover and uncover the load from the
convenient location of the truck cab. My U.S. Pat. No. 5,031,955,
the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference,
provides a truck cover which may be conveniently motor operated
from the cab of a truck to extend the cover from a winding assembly
proximate the front of the truck bed and toward the rear of the
truck bed.
[0003] A need also exists for systems that cover the trailer from
side to side. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,328,228 shows a cover
for truck bed and cargo. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,758 shows a
roll assist mechanism for tarp systems. My U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,206,449
and 6,527,331, the disclosures of which are also hereby
incorporated by reference, show a side-to-side truck cover system
including a pair of arms, each of which includes a base and an
extension.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0004] One aspect of the present invention is a rail for a top of a
wall of a trailer. The rail comprises a body adapted to engage the
top of the wall. The body has a concave surface adapted to receive
a cover reel.
[0005] Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus of the type described above for use in covering a
trailer.
[0006] Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus
of the type described above for use in covering the trailer from
side to side.
[0007] Still another object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus of the type described above for use in a system that
provides selective, powered control over covering and uncovering
the trailer.
[0008] Still another object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus of the type described above that utilizes a relatively
reduced number of small components.
[0009] Still another object of this invention is to provide an
apparatus of the type described above that minimizes damage done to
the apparatus during loading operations.
[0010] These and other objects, features, and advantages of the
present invention are readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the best mode for carrying out the invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front schematic view of a trailer including an
apparatus according to the present invention for covering the
trailer;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear schematic view of the trailer shown in FIG.
1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a top rail shown in the
portion of FIG. 2 designated "3";
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the top rail;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of interlocking sections of
one embodiment of a wall of the trailer;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the wall sections joined
together; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a cover return unit.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0018] With reference to the drawings, the preferred embodiments of
the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an arm
assembly 10 for a flexible tarp or cover 12 of a truck trailer 13.
The arm assembly 10 comprises a base 14 and an extension 18. The
base 14 is preferably mounted to the trailer at a base plate 20
proximate the top of the front 22 of the trailer. While the base
plate 20 is shown in the drawings centered and closer to the top of
the trailer 13, it should be appreciated that the base plate may be
mounted at a variety of locations.
[0019] The base plate 20 includes at least one spiral torsion
spring. Preferably, one end of each of the springs engages a groove
formed in the surface of and extending a substantial portion of the
length of a center shaft, while the other ends of the springs
cooperate with a locator pin. Further details of this arrangement
are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,887,937, which is hereby incorporated
by reference. In this way, the base 14 is normally biased clockwise
as shown in FIG. 1 across at least a portion of the front 22 of the
trailer from a mostly or fully uncovered, stowed position, through
intermediate positions (only one of which is shown) and toward a
deployed position.
[0020] The extension 18 is pivotally connected at one of its ends
to the base 14 by a hinge or knuckle 28. Preferably, a knuckle
shaft is welded or otherwise fixed to one of a pair of plates
extending from an upper end of the base 14. The knuckle shaft
extends through the lower end of the extension 18 such that the
knuckle shaft is rotatable with respect to the extension. One end
of each of a plurality of spiral torsion springs preferably engages
an axial groove formed in the knuckle shaft. The other ends of the
springs cooperate with a knuckle locator pin. Further details of
this arrangement are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,944,374, which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0021] In this way, the extension 18 is also normally biased
clockwise as shown in FIG. 1. Rotation of the extension 18 in both
directions may be limited by one or more stops which are preferably
in the form of plates 29. The plates 29 are welded or otherwise
attached to the knuckle 28, and extend inwardly therefrom to engage
the extension and prevent overrotation. Another stop may be welded
or otherwise attached to the front 22 of the trailer to limit the
pivotal movement of the base 14, as taught by U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/957,202 filed Sep. 20, 2001, the disclosure
of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0022] A motor 30 is mounted on the distal end of the extension 18.
A rotatable reel 32 extends from the motor 30, and is operatively
connected to one end of the cover 12 so as to function as a take-up
spool. The other end of the cover 12 is clamped, riveted, or
otherwise fixed at one or more points along a line below the top of
one side 34 of the trailer, such as at one or more openings 36
along a top rail 38. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the top rail 38
includes one or more metal or plastic pieces, such as extruded or
pultruded aluminum or composite fiberglass polymer. The top rail
38, and an opposite top rail 60, include generally depending legs
39 and 40 that are adapted to be mounted over the top of the
trailer wall 34 or the opposite trailer wall 41. The legs 39 and 40
may be fixed to the trailer walls in any conventional manner, such
as by welding, riveting or bolting. The trailer may also be
provided with front and rear end caps, which are not shown, in
order to provide a uniform wall height around the perimeter of the
trailer, if the front and rear walls of the trailer are not already
high enough.
[0023] The top rails 38 and 60 also each include a major interior
surface 42, a major exterior surface 44, and one or more ribs 46,
48, 50, 52 and 54 extending from one or both of the surfaces 42 and
44. In a preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the ribs 46,
48, 50 and 52 all meet at a reinforced section 55 proximate the
exterior surface 44. A locking channel portion 56 of the exterior
surface 44 is concave, in order to accommodate the stowed tarp
spool 32 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The concave portion 56 of the
top rail 38 includes the opening 36, into which the stationary end
of the tarp 12 may be anchored in any well known fashion. In a
preferred embodiment, the tarp 12 is attached to the top rail 38 by
sliding a tube 57 through a pocket in the stationary end of the
tarp, and then sliding the stationary end of the tarp and the tube
through a void 58 in the top rail with the tarp extending through
the opening 36. The top rail 60, of course, does not require an
opening similar to the opening 36.
[0024] For either of the top rails 38 or 60, the exterior surface
44 preferably includes a rounded lip 62 that extends to a point at
or below the uppermost extent of the concave surface 56. In the
fully uncovered position, the cover 12 is wound on the reel 32
until the reel resides generally proximate the concave surface 56.
In this position, the trailer may dump rearwardly or in either the
clockwise or counterclockwise direction without interference from
the retracted cover.
[0025] The motor 30 is preferably provided with a brake which
allows, among other things, for the apparatus 10 to remain in the
stowed position. The lip 62 facilitates retention of the reel 32 in
the stowed position. When the brake is released, the base 14 swings
toward the driver's side 41 of the trailer, and the springs of the
knuckle 28 also bias the extension 18 clockwise as shown in FIG. 1
toward the side 41 of the trailer so as to hold the cover 12 in
tension. The motor 30 may be powered, from within or without the
cab of the truck, to facilitate this operation. Further details of
one embodiment of the motor are taught by U.S. Pat. No. 5,829,819,
which is hereby incorporated by reference. In this way, the cover
12 is pulled off of the reel 32 and extended over the trailer. The
motor 30 can be reversed to drive the reel 32 and retract the cover
12 against the tension force of the springs to uncover the load
bed.
[0026] The top rail 60 is provided with a profile generally similar
to the profile of the top rail 38 so that the motor 30 drives the
reel 32 within the concave portion of the top rail 60, where the
lip of the top rail 60 and the motor braking function may be used
to hold the cover 12 in the deployed position. The top rails 38 and
60 thus allow the tarp reel 32 to reside close to the sides of the
trailer in both the opened and closed positions. Because the tarp
reel does not rest on the top of the trailer when the tarp is
opened or closed, the overall height of the trailer and the
possibility of a loader causing harm to the tarp assembly are
reduced.
[0027] Any rotation of the base 14 less than about 250 degrees is
contemplated, and in a preferred embodiment the base sweeps out an
arc of about 120 degrees. Any rotation of the extension 18 relative
to the base 14 is also contemplated, and in a preferred embodiment
the extension rotates a total of about 250 degrees. By varying the
position of the locator pins, the preload of the springs, the
number of springs and/or the spring constant of the springs, the
forces biasing the base and the extension toward the deployed
position are variable. In a preferred embodiment, eight springs are
used to bias the base 14, and three springs are used in the knuckle
28 between the base and the extension 18. In this arrangement the
knuckle 28 opens relatively quickly, thus accommodating the weight
of the axle, cover, and motor 30, and allowing the motor to swing
from either its fully covered or uncovered place and clear the top
rail 38 or 60.
[0028] FIGS. 5 and 6 show interlocking sections 70 and 72 that may
be used to form the walls 34 and 41 of the trailer. The sections 70
and 72 are generally identical, and of course two or more may be
needed to form the extent of a trailer wall, depending upon the
length of the sections and the length of the wall required. The
sections 70 and 72 have substantially smooth inner and outer sides
joined by cross ribs 74. Each wall section includes a male end 76
and a female end 78. The male end 76 of one wall section is adapted
to interlock with the female end 78 of an adjacent wall section. In
a preferred embodiment, the male ends 76 include a central recess
80 flanked by protrusions 82 and 84. The protrusions 82 and 84 in
turn define respective lateral recesses 86 and 88 generally
proximate the outer surfaces of the wall sections. The female ends
78 include a central protrusion 90 flanked by lateral protrusions
92 and 94 generally proximate the outer surfaces of the wall
sections. The central protrusion 90 and the lateral protrusions 92
and 94 in turn define respective recesses 96 and 98.
[0029] When brought together, the lateral protrusions 92 and 94
lockingly engage the lateral recesses 86 and 88, respectively. At
the same time, the protrusions 82 and 84 lockingly engage the
recesses 96 and 98, while the central protrusion 90 fits within the
central recess 80. The sections 70 and 72 are preferably extruded
from aluminum. After the wall sections are preassembled, with or
without the top rails, the entire preassembly may be joined, such
as by welding, to the metal rails of the truck bed. Because the
individual wall sections do not need to be welded together,
substantial time and effort may be avoided.
[0030] Referring again to FIG. 2, an elastic cord may be provided
proximate the rear of the trailer for biasing the reel 32 toward
the driver's side 41 of the trailer. More preferably, a cover
return unit 100 is provided. The cover return unit 100 is
preferably mounted on the driver's side 41 of the trailer, at or
near the rear of the trailer. As shown in FIG. 7, the cover return
unit 100 preferably includes two halves 102 and 104 molded in an
automotive grade plastic and rotatably mounted on an external pivot
pin assembly 106, and a large coil spring 108 contained inside the
halves 102 and 104. The pivot pin assembly 106 is secured is
secured to the trailer, preferably by bolts extending through holes
110. One end 112 of the spring 108 is secured in a groove 114 in
the pivot pin assembly 106, and another end 116 of the spring 108
is secured, such as by insertion in a groove 118, to the cover
return half 102.
[0031] A sufficient length of nylon rope or cord 119, shown in
FIGS. 2 and 3, is wrapped around the assembled cover return unit
100, with one end attached to the unit itself such as by a cable
clamp (not shown) secured by one of the screws (not shown)
extending through holes 120. The other end of the rope 119 extends
through a hole in an end cap secured on the back end of the tarp
axle 32 such as by screws 122. The rope 119 is preferably knotted
at this end to prevent it from being withdrawn through the hole in
the end cap of the reel. As the tarp reel 32 rolls toward the
passenger side 34 of the trailer, i.e. uncovering the trailer, the
rope 119 unspools from the cover return unit 100. As the rope
unspools, it rotates the unit 100 to wind the spring 108 and store
rotational torque. When the tarp 12 is returned to the driver's
side 41 of the trailer, the cover return unit 100 pulls on the back
of the axle 32 using the torque stored in the spring 108.
[0032] It should be understood that while the forms of the
invention shown and described above constitute preferred
embodiments of the invention, they are not intended to illustrate
all possible forms thereof. The words used are words of description
rather than limitation, and various changes may be made without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed.
* * * * *